Portable shelter and method for constructing the shelter

ABSTRACT

A structure for shelters and hangers having a plurality of panel sections wherein honeycomb panels are secured to I-beam supports. The I-beams are shaped to give a predetermined arch shape to the structure. Knuckle joint links are secured to the ends of the Ibeams at the top and bottom. In constructing the shelters the top links of adjacent beams are first connected together. The panels are then raised until the bottom links can be secured together. Additional panels are added in the same manner until the arch is completed. Adjacent arch spans are connected by space bars. All of the joints are sealed with sealing members held with hook and pile fasteners. The spaces between arch spans are sealed with flashing held by draw ropes.

United States Patent [72] Inventors John R. McKnight Cincinnati, Ohio;Joseph M. Ballay, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Lawrence L. Fabbro, River Vale, N.J.;James M. Alexander, Cincinnati, Ohio [2!] Appl No. 71,815 [22] FiledSept. 14, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] Assignee The UnitedStates of America as represented by the Secretary of the United StatesAir Force [54] PORTABLE SHELTER AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING THE SHELTER4 Claims, 35 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 52/86, 5 2/245 [51] Int. Cl E04b 1/32 [50] Field of Search52/80, 81, 86, 71, 87, 245

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,482 2/1965 Doman etal. 52/71 2,874,812 2/1959 Clevett, Jr. 52/86 3,059,734 10/1962 Tripp52/245 Primary Examiner Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-Leslie A.Braun Attorneys- Harry A. Herbert, Jr. and Richard J. Killoren ABSTRACT:A structure for shelters and hangers having a plurality of panelsections wherein honeycomb panels are secured to l-beam supports. Thel-beams are shaped to give a predetermined arch shape to the structure.Knuckle joint links are secured to the ends of the l-beams at the topand bottom. in constructing the shelters the top links of adjacent beamsare first connected together. The panels are then raised until thebottom links can be secured together. Additional panels are added in thesame manner until the arch is completed. Adjacent arch spans areconnected by space bars. All of the joints are sealed with sealingmembers held with hook and pile fasteners. The spaces between arch spansare sealed with flashing held by draw ropes.

slsaslazs PATENTED mu 1 L972 SHEET 05 HF W mm m. 60 7 7 ay, a d NJ 40B2. u! l PATENIEB m1 1 m2 SHEET INVENTORS PATENTEU Jun 1 1922 SHEET 07 0FINVENTOR5 MIZIX 4/ (I p, firra (g SHEET 08 0F x M hfl i m y a 7 M 0 /r.W r a r d 5 mam n n N ta m PATENTED Jun 1 I872 1. III III."

PATENTEB AN 1 I972 ,isgsaaaze SHEET 09 0F 10 PORTABLE SHELTER AND METHODFOR CONSTRUCTING THE SHELTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the needfor relocation of shelters and hangers in limited war situations,structures are needed that are easily assembled and disassembled withminimum personnel requirements. Such structure must be made of partsthat are easily handled and which are readily crated or placed onpallets for transportation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, method andapparatus are provided for building shelter and hanger structures whichare capable of being erected by as few as two men in a minimum of timeand which requires a small amount of equipment to erect the structure.In the structures of this invention many of the parts areinterchangeable and various types of structures can be built from thebuilding components. The structural components and method of erection issuch that large structures can be erected with-a small hoist and a fewtools. Thus, no heavy building equipment is needed. Also a portion ofthe structure may be used as a ladder thus reducing the amount ofadditional equipment needed.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hanger according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one of the panel sections for the deviceof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the panel side of one of the I-beams used in the panelsections of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the spacer side of the I-beam of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows the panel side of the I-beam used in the panel section ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows the spacer side of the I-beam of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a partially schematic view of the camlock used in the panelsection of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a partially schematic view of the camlock of FIG. 7 in itslocked condition.

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a pair of panels used in the panel sectionof FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a partially cut away sectional view of the device of FIG. 9along the line 10-40.

FIG. 11 is a partially cut away sectional view of the device I of FIG. 9along the line 11-11.

FIG. 12 shows the female portion of the camlock of FIG. 7 in the paneledge extrusion member.

FIG. 13 shows a sidewall base pad for the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 shows a corner base bad of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 shows the base pad layout pattern for the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 shows the layout cable of FIG. 15 with base pad positionmarkers.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a base pad stake for the device of FIG.1.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing part of the erection procedurefor one of the arch spans for the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 shows a partially assembled knuckle joint for adjacent panelsfor the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 20 shows the knuckle joint of FIG. 19 with the second partconnected.

FIG. 21 shows a hoist clamp attached to one of the panels as in FIG. 18.

FIG. 22 shows a tensioning apparatus for use in erecting the arch spansfor the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 23 shows the apparatus of FIG. 22 as used with an arch span of thedevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 24 shows a space bar, for use in the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 25 shows the space bar installation for the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 26 shows the use of the space bars between arch spans as ladders inthe device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 27 shows the end wall closure and end wall support used in thedevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 28 shows the canvas connector for the device of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 shows the support pole connection for the device of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 shows the support-pole-operating pulleys for the device of FIG.27.

FIG. 31 shows the joint sealing structure for the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 32 shows the ridge sealing structure for the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 33 shows the spacer sealing structure for the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 34 shows a modified structure than can be constructed with thepanel sections used in the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 35 shows a special panel section link for use in the device of FIG.34.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawing which shows a hangerstructure 10 made up of plurality of arch spans 12. Each arch span ismade up of a plurality of panel sections 14.

The panel sections 14 have two honeycomb panels 16 supported between twosupport I-beams 18 and 19, as shown in FIG. 2.

The support beams 18 and 19 shown in FIGS. 36 have the male portions 20of camlocks 21 secured to one side thereof. The camlocks are shown ingreater detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each of the camlocks has a camhook 23which engages a pin 25 in the female portion 26 of the camlock, which issecured to panels 16. An Allen wrench is inserted into slot 28 andturned to draw the two parts of the camlocks together by the cam actionof hook 23.

Beam 19 has a spacer member 30, shown in greater detail in FIG. 24,secured between brackets 32 and 33 as shown in FIGS. 2, 25 and 31. Beam18 has brackets 36 to which the spacers from an adjacent arch span aresecured, as will be explained later.

All of the beams 18 and 19 except those that are to be connected to theground plates are as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with knuckle hinge links 38,39, 40 and 41 secured to the ends thereof. One end of the beams 18 and19' shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have tongue members 43 at one end so that thebeams can be secured to the base pads 80 and 81.

After the panels 16 are secured to the beams 18 and 19, the spacebetween the panels is sealed as shown in FIG. 10. The honeycomb panels16 have extruded edge members and 51 secured between aluminum surfacelayers 53 and 54 and to the honeycomb structure with an epoxy adhesiveor other well-known means. A fabric seal 56, such as a rubber-coatednylon, or other waterproof material, is held in channels 59 and 60 ofedge members 50 and 51 of adjacent panels by bars 61 which are held byrivets 63. Sealing members 64 and 66 are secured to the outer edgemembers 50 and 51' in a similar manner. Members 66 have hook and members64 have pile fasteners for securing members 64 and 66 of adjacent panelsections together to form a sea], as shown in FIG. 31. Side extrudedmembers 71 and 72 are also secured to layers 53 and 54 and the honeycombmaterial with an epoxy adhesive or other well-known means. The femalemembers of camlocks 21 are secured within extrusions 71 and 72 withrivets 73, as shown in FIG. 12.

Sealing members 74 and 75 have tabs 76 with hooks for attaching to pilefasteners 111 on the I-beams 18 and 19, as shown in FIG. 31.

After the panels 14 are assembled they are ready to be used to form anarch span 12. While the panel 14 shown in FIG. 2 is a plain panel someof the panels are made with windows as shown at 14 in FIG. 1. Alsospecial panels with doors can also be provided.

The base pads 80 shown in FIG. 13 and comer pads 81 shown in FIG. 14 arearranged in the proper pattern as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. A cable 84with position markers 85 is used to lay out the base pads. Stakes 87shown in FIG. 17 are then driven into slots 88 to secure the base pads80 and 81. The cable must be used twice to lay out all of the base padsas can be seen in FIG. 15.

After the base pads are laid out, tongue members 43 on panels 14 areattached to lugs 90 on a corner pad and one of the lugs 91 on the nextadjacent pad as shown in FIG. 18. Knuckle links 38 on beams 18 and 19are then secured to knuckle links 40 of a second panel as shown in FIG.19. The panels are then raised until a pin can be inserted in links 39and 41 of the knuckle joint as shown in FIG. 20. Top knuckle links 38 ofthe end panel are then secured to links 40 of the next panel and thepanels are again raised to connect links 39 and 41.

After the first few panels have been connected together, a hoist 93 willbe needed to raise the panels by connecting hoist clamps 95, shown inFIG. 21. The clamps are connected on the completed arch side of theknuckle joint. This procedure then continues until all of the panelsections for one arch have been connected together.

Due to the weight of the arch span the end of the arch will not be inalignment with the base pads on the other side of the shelter. Atensioning device 97 shown in FIG. 22 is secured to the tongues 43, asshown in FIG. 23, to bring the tongues into alignment with lugs 90 and91 on the base pads 80 and 81 and also to eliminate any looseness in thearch span. The tongues are then secured to the base pads.

A second arch span is then erected in a like manner. Space bar members30, shown in FIG. 24, have a first member 101 connected to brackets 32and 33 on I-beam 19. A second member 102 is slidable on member 101 andis locked thereto by locking device 104. Member 102 is secured tobrackets 36 on I-beam 18 of the second arch span. Locking device 104 isthen tightened to lock the spacer as shown in FIG. 25. By usingpreviously installed space bars as steps, space bars can be installedall the way to the top of the arch spans as shown in FIG. 26.Construction is thus continued until all of the arch spans arecompleted.

An end closure for the shelter can be provided by a canvas 105 securedto the end arch spans as they are raised as shown in FIG. 27. The canvasmay be secured to the I-beams by means of hooks 108, as shown in FIG.28. Support poles 106 may also be secured to the I-beams by clamps 107as shown in FIG. 29. Pulleys 109 have a rope 110 attached to the supportpoles 106 to raise them and move them out of the way when desired. Thepulleys 109 are connected to beams 18 and 19 of the end arch span asshown in FIG. 30. Similar pulleys, not shown, may be provided forraising the canvas 105.

The seams between panels of adjacent panel sections are sealed withhypalon coated nylon seals 64, 66, shown in FIG. 10. The seals aresecured by means of hook-and-pile-type fasteners, known as Velcrofasteners, as shown in FIG. 31. The joints between the panels and thebeams are sealed with hypalon coated nylon seals 74 and 75, shown inFIG. 11, which are secured by means of hooks on tabs 76, which attach topile fasteners 111 on the I-beams 18 and 19. Ridge flashing 113, of asimilar material, is secured in the same manner with hook and pilefasteners, as shown in FIG. 32. The space between arch spans is coveredwith a sealing covering 115, of a similar material, as shown in FIG. 33.Draw ropes 117 are secured to tie down bars 118 on base pads 80 and 81.

The panels described previously can also be used to build otherstructures, for example a utility shelter, as shown in FIG. 34, can beconstructed in a manner similar to that used for building the hanger ofFIG. 1. A special hinge link 120, shown in FIG. 35, is sued to provide asharper corner 122. The end walls may be provided, as described for thehanger, or a rigid end wall can be constructed of panels similar topanels 14 used in the arch spans. However, the I-beam hinge joints wouldbe straight rather than as shown for the joints between beams 18 and 19.Also the panels would be shaped to fit the space to close the end ofthestructure as shown in FIG. 34.

There is thus provided a shelter structure which is readily assembledand disassembled and which requires less equipment to construct thanprior art structures.

We claim:

1. A portable shelter which can be readily assembled and disassembled,comprising; a plurality of adjacent arch shaped structures laterallyspaced from each other, each having a plurality of panel sectionsincluding honeycomb panels spacially connected between l-beam supports;a plurality of base pads secured to the ground in a predeterminedrectangular pattern; certain of said panels having tongue extensions atone end adapted to be connected to said base pads and a pair ofconnecting links at the other end; the other of said panels having apair of connecting links at both ends one link of each said pairpositioned on the top and the other link of said pair positioned on thebottom of said I-beams; the links at the bottom of the panels beingspaced closer together than the links at the top of said panels wherebysaid panels when connected together form a plurality of substantiallyarch-shaped structures; means for interconnecting the top links ofadjacent panels together; means for interconnecting the bottom links ofadjacent panels together; a plurality of expandable connecting barmembers connected between the adjacent arch shaped structures; means forlocking the connecting bar in the expanded position between thearch-shaped structure; means for sealing the joints between adjacentpanels; means for sealing the joints between sections; means for sealingthe space between the panels and the I-beam supports; means for sealingthe space between adjacent arch-shaped structures and means forproviding end closures for the shelter.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 including means connected betweenthe top connecting link of each of the panel sections connected to thebase pads and the top link of the panel sections connected thereto, forproviding a substantially vertical wall section for the shelter.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for providing asubstantially vertical wall section are short links for spacing the toplinks of the I-beams further apart than the bottom links.

4. The method of constructing a shelter that is readily disassembled fortransporting to other sites comprising: forming panel sections bysecuring laterally spaced honeycomb panels spacially between pairs ofI-beams having pairs of connecting links secured to the ends thereof onelink of each said pair positioned on the top and the other link of saidpair positioned on the bottom of said I-beam with the links of one sideof the beams being spaced further apart than the links on the other sideof the beams whereby said panel sections, when joined together, form anarch structure securing mounting pads to the ground in a predeterminedrectangular pattern; providing tongues adapted to be secured to themounting pads at one end of the I-beams of certain of the panelsections; securing the tongues on one of said panel sections to anadjacent pair of the mounting pads in said rectangular pattern;connecting the top-connecting links at one end of a second panel to thetopconnecting links of the panel connected to the mounting pads; raisingthe panels to permit bending at the connecting links to align thebottom-connecting links of said panels; connecting the bottom-connectinglinks together; attaching additional panels in the same manner to forman arch span; connecting a second panel section with tongues on one endto the other end of the arch span; drawing the bottom of the arch spanin and connecting it to a corresponding pair of adjacent mounting padsat the other end of the arch span; erecting additional arch spans in thesame manner; interconnecting adjacent arch spans with connecting barsattached to the l-beams of adjacent panel sections; sealing the spacebetween the panels; with sealing members attached to the adjacent panelssealing the space between the panels and I-beams with sealing membersattached to the panels and to the I-beams; and sealing the space betweenarch spans with moistureproof sealing materials.

1. A portable shelter which can be readily assembled and disassembled,comprising; a plurality of adjacent arch shaped structures laterallyspaced from each other, each having a plurality of panel sectionsincluding honeycomb panels spacially connected between I-beam supports;a plurality of base pads secured to the ground in a predeterminedrectangular pattern; certain of said panels having tongue extensions atone end adapted to be connected to said base pads and a pair ofconnecting links at the other end; the other of said panels having apair of connecting links at both ends one link of each said pairpositioned on the top and the other link of said pair positioned on thebottom of said I-beams; the links at the bottom of the panels beingspaced closer together than the links at the top of said panels wherebysaid panels when connected together form a plurality of substantiallyarch-shaped structures; means for interconnecting the top links ofadjacent panels together; means for interconnecting the bottom links ofadjacent panels together; a plurality of expandable connecting barmembers connected between the adjacent arch shaped structures; means forlocking the connecting bar in the expanded position between thearch-shaped structure; means for sealing the joints between adjacentpanels; means for sealing the joints between sections; means for sealingthe space between the panels and the I-beam supports; means for sealingthe space between adjacent archshaped structures and means for providingend closures for the shelter.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1including means connected between the top connecting link of each of thepanel sections connected to the base pads and the top link of the panelsections connected thereto, for providing a substantially vertical wallsection for the shelter.
 3. The device as recited in claim 2 whereinsaid means for providing a substantially vertical wall section are shortlinks for spacing the top links of the I-beams further apart than thebottom links.
 4. The method of constructing a shelter that is readilydisassembled for transporting to other sites comprising: forming panelsections by securing laterally spaced honeycomb panels spacially betweenpairs of I-beams having pairs of connecting links secured to the endsthereof one link of each said pair positioned on the top and the otherlink of said pair positioned on the bottom of said I-beam with the linksof one side of the beams being spaced further apart than the links onthe other side of the beams whereby said panel sections, when joinedtogether, form an arch structure securing mounting pads to the ground ina predetermined rectangular pattern; providing tongues adapted to besecured to the mounting pads at one end of the I-beams of certain of thepanel sections; securing the tongues on one of said panel sections to anadjacent pair of the mounting pads in said rectangular pattern;connecting the top-connecting links at one end of a second panel to thetop-connecting links of the panel connected to the mounting pads;raising the panels to permit bending at the connecting links to alignthe bottom-connecting links of said panels; connecting thebottom-connecting links together; attaching additional panels in thesame manner to form an arch span; connecting a second panel section withtongues on one end to the other end of the arch span; drawing the bottomof the arch span in and connecting it to a corresponding pair ofadjacent mounting pads at the other end of the arch span; erectingadditional arch spans in the same manner; interconnecting adjacent archspans with connecting bars attached to the I-beams of adjacent panelsections; sealing the space between the panels; with sealing membersattached to the adjacent panels sealing the space between the panels andI-beams with sealing members attached to the panels and to the I-beams;and sealing the space between arch spans with moistureproof sealingmaterials.